#Michigan equal opportunity housing laws full

Prospective home buyers or renters are protected from discrimination based on race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability and familial status. This includes buying or renting a home, obtaining a mortgage, asking about housing assistance, or seeking any other type of housing-related guidance. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against individuals who are at any point in the home buying or renting process. The lawyers at Pentiuk, Couvreur & Kobiljak, P.C., can minimize your potential exposure to fair housing disputes by providing you with additional training from a cooperative attorney’s perspective, legal guidance and assistance with compliance.īelow are some responses to common questions we receive. Allegations of discriminatory practices can propel property owners into costly and time-consuming litigation. One of the largest challenges faced by housing cooperatives is complying with the federal Fair Housing Act. Over the years, amendments have further expanded the Act and it stands as an important landmark in the historical progression of Michigan civil rights law.Understanding Your Obligations Under The Fair Housing Act The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act substantially advanced the state's efforts to eliminate discrimination in employment, education, housing, public service, real estate transactions, and the use of public accommodations, and to secure equal opportunity for all.

#Michigan equal opportunity housing laws full

'The opportunity to obtain employment, housing and other real estate, and the full and equal utilization of public accommodations, public service, and educational facilities without discrimination because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, or marital status as prohibited by this act is hereby recognized and declared to be a civil right.'

The Act bolstered existing civil rights law by extending the reach of its application and expanding the forms of discrimination prohibited, declaring: This landmark legislation was sponsored by state Representative Daisy Elliott, a Democrat from Detroit, and Representative Mel Larsen, a Republican from Oxford, and was signed into law by Governor William Milliken on January 13, 1977. The roots of such constitutional protections extend deep into Michigan's legislative and judicial history.Ī historic highpoint in the state's tradition of protecting civil rights came in 1976 with the passage of Public Act 453, commonly referred to as the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Set against the culturally divisive and politically turbulent backdrop of the 1960s, this constitutional safeguard was a bold endorsement of equality and inclusiveness. The Michigan Constitution of 1963 reaffirmed the state's longstanding public policy of protecting civil rights by prohibiting discrimination based on religion, race, color, or national origin. Landmark Law Advancing Equal Opportunity: Michigan Legislative Website Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act 453 1976.Michigan Bar Journal: The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and Michigan Civil Rights Commission Executive Director Dr. Cooley Law School Dean John Nussbaumer Michigan Representative Fred Durhal Jr. Pictured from left to right: former Michigan Representative Mel Larsen Aliyah Sabree, assistant prosecuting attorney at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office former Michigan Representative Daisy Elliott State Bar of Michigan President Julie Fershtman Thomas M.